Task force arrests 9 in plastic theft case

A plastic theft task force of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department found stolen material at Broadway Plastics and a residence in Lynwood. Calif. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department photos)

CITY OF INDUSTRY (Jan. 4, 2 p.m. ET) — Members of a task force in southern California confiscated stolen trademarked plastic products worth more than $115,000 and arrested nine individuals in a Jan. 2 conclusion to a multi-month investigation.

The council for the City of Industry provided the task force with $1.2 million for a trial program, but those funds are nearly exhausted.

Since the program began in September 2011, the task force has recovered intact and granulated plastic products with a value of more than $6.7 million, Mitry said.

As for future investigative efforts, “it is 100 percent on the shoulders of the City of Industry if they choose to do it,” Mitry said. “I am hopeful they will do it.” The task force is based at a sheriff’s station in the City of Industry.